Nose to the Grindstone

Well, summer is officially over and I am a "working girl" once more. The beginning of the year in a virtual school is always very interesting--fraught with meetings (which require travel), technology training sessions (which require travel because as my Head of School stated, I live in "the middle of nowhere") and National teacher conferences (which require travel). All of this for my "work from home" career. A friend made the comment that he didn't know that public school teachers were the new "jet set." No kidding! Neither did I!

I am also spending my days organizing my stuff--for those who know me well, you know this is not an easy task--and making contact with families of students in my "class." This involves sending email, receiving email, un-sending email, deleting email, and attaching documents to email. It also includes using my "Good morning/afternoon/evening, this is Casey!" greeting on the phone instead of the summer's usual " 'lo?"

I am so thankful for M who is stepping up by making lunch and keeping a general eye on things. I can tell it's taking its toll on her, though. She and J got into an "elbowing" match today, which ended in J crying and M in her room. They are still kids, after all! Hopefully, I will be in a decent groove by the time M starts school next week. Sniff! But that is another post, entirely!

I am enjoying it, though! One mother told me how impressed she was by me when she met me on Wednesday. It is amazing to make connections with all of these families. I feel privileged to be trusted to be a part of their child's education.

And on a very happy and totally unrelated note--but it's too exciting to keep to myself--I got an email (amid all of the crazy email) from a dear friend today saying, "Why didn't you call me back earlier so I could tell you I was pregnant?!!" Guess who called her right then? :o) So now there's a new baby to look forward to in February!

So, if you can't get in touch with me by phone, try sending me an email :o). If I don't respond within 24 hours (the required email response time to my families for work), please come searching for me. I may be going crazy in my basement office!